Summit Speaker

COL Ryan Howell is a career U.S. Army Armor Officer currently serving as the Chief of Staff at Next Generation Combat Vehicles Cross Functional Team (NGCV CFT) for US Army Futures Command (AFC). He oversees the daily operations of the team responsible for delivering modern and effective combat and robotic vehicle capabilities to the US Army. He has more than 26 years of experience as an organizational leader; including multiple combat and operational assignments in Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, and Korea. COL Howell has extensive experience working with Allies, Partners, and Civilian Governments in both training and combat environments.

NGCV CFT is responsible for supervising requirements development, documentation, and support to Army decision making that improves the quality and speed of new materiel development activities. The NGCV CFT developed, refined, and delivered achievable and stable requirements for the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle, the M10 Booker, the XM30 Combat Vehicle, the M1E3 Abrams modernization, and the Robotic Combat Vehicle through the adoption of 21st century technologies, business practices, and talent development to deliver new ground maneuver capabilities that overmatch peer threats and provide for proactive, persistent modernization.

Ryan is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, where he earned a bachelor's degree in international studies. He holds a master's degree in military studies from Marine Corps University, as well as a master's degree with distinction in emergency management and homeland security from Arizona State University. Additionally, Ryan was the 2019 Army Fellow at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

Recent Assignments Highlights:

• Squadron Commander of 4th Squadron, 3d Cavalry Regiment
• US Northern Command's Domestic Operations Division Chief supporting disaster relief for Hurricanes Irma (Florida), Maria (Puerto Rico), and Florence (North Carolina).
• Garrison Commander, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
• Three combat tours to Iraq and two to Afghanistan